Wisconsin Lutheran College presents George Orwell's "1984"

October 16, 2006

MILWAUKEE - War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength. The Wisconsin Lutheran College theatre department presents an adaptation of George Orwell's classic tale of political terror, "1984," November 3-4 at 8 p.m., November 5 at 3 p.m. and November 9-11 at 8 p.m. in the Raabe Theatre.

Directed by Professor Jan Nelson, "1984" tells the story of Oceania, a community whose will has been dashed by the constant onslaught of propaganda and fear administered by their leader - Big Brother. Citizens are arrested for thought-crime and are aware that their leader is always watching. Winston Smith remembers that things were once different, and when he meets Julia, a fellow worker at the Ministry of Truth, he finds he is not alone in his thinking. When they begin to trust that O'Brian, a party official, is also "one of them," they soon learn that trust is a precious commodity.

Although the year 1984 has come and gone, the story's political and social warnings are as timely today as ever. "I do not believe that the kind of society I describe necessarily will arrive, but I believe that something resembling it could arrive," said Orwell. "The moral to be drawn from the dangerous nightmare situation is a simple one: Don't let it happen. It depends on you."

The Raabe Theatre is located in the college's Center for Arts and Performance at 8815 West Wisconsin Avenue. Tickets are $8, $7 seniors and $5 students/children. For further information, please call the box office at (414) 443-8802. Tickets may be purchased online at wlc.edu/arts.

Since 1996, the Wisconsin Lutheran College Center for Arts and Performance has been providing a comprehensive program of performing and visual arts and educational and community events for students and the people of southeastern Wisconsin.